Florida repeats 4-0 start from 2011

By ROBBIE ANDREU | Halifax Media Group

Published: Sunday, September 23, 2012 at 08:50 PM.

Muschamp said this is a different 4-0 than last year’s 4-0.

“We are a better team,” Muschamp said. “We’re better on both lines of scrimmage. We’re deeper and more mature. We handle things a lot better. We’re a year older. Those are factors when you’re dealing with young people.

“They understand what it takes to be successful. We’re a little more talented team than we were a year ago in some critical spots. But we’ve got a lot of things to clean up, a lot of errors that we need to clean up.”

The Gators — and sophomore quarterback Jeff Driskel — were far from perfect in Saturday’s victory. UF got off to a slow start and led only 3-0 at the end of the first quarter. Thanks in part to a 26-yard interception return for a touchdown by cornerback Jaylen Watkins and some improved play converting third downs, the Gators managed to build a 24-0 halftime lead.

The Gators put the game away with a 15-play, 72-yard touchdown drive on their first possession in the second half that consumed 9:03 of the third quarter. The score came on a 1-yard sneak by Driskel.

“That drive was good for our offense and good for our team,” Driskel said.

UF added another TD with 6:47 left in the fourth quarter on a 1-yard sneak by No. 2 quarterback Jacoby Brissett.

GAINESVILLE — After slaying Tennessee with a big-play performance in Knoxville a week ago, many were assuming the Florida Gators would fly effortlessly up and down the field Saturday in The Swamp against struggling Kentucky.

It didn’t quite play out that way.

Despite that good-looking final score — 38-0 over the Wildcats — it was kind of an ugly performance Saturday compared to last week’s second-half masterpiece in Tennessee. It was tough at times, a real unexpected struggle.

But it served its purpose for the No. 14 Gators. The win pushes Florida to 4-0 on the season and 3-0 in the SEC heading into the Oct. 6 LSU game at Florida Field. UK falls to 1-3 and 0-1.

“We’re 4-0 with an opportunity to be 5-0, and that’s what you were looking to do,” UF coach Will Muschamp said. “Obviously, there are things we need to improve on. Again, we realize why we are where we are because of hard work and practicing well and playing together as a team.

“We’re a very unselfish team. Nobody is worried about who’s getting the credit. Those things are all good.”

The Gators are right where they were a year ago at this time — 4-0 heading into an SEC showdown in The Swamp against the No. 2 team in the nation.

Muschamp said this is a different 4-0 than last year’s 4-0.

“We are a better team,” Muschamp said. “We’re better on both lines of scrimmage. We’re deeper and more mature. We handle things a lot better. We’re a year older. Those are factors when you’re dealing with young people.

“They understand what it takes to be successful. We’re a little more talented team than we were a year ago in some critical spots. But we’ve got a lot of things to clean up, a lot of errors that we need to clean up.”

The Gators — and sophomore quarterback Jeff Driskel — were far from perfect in Saturday’s victory. UF got off to a slow start and led only 3-0 at the end of the first quarter. Thanks in part to a 26-yard interception return for a touchdown by cornerback Jaylen Watkins and some improved play converting third downs, the Gators managed to build a 24-0 halftime lead.

The Gators put the game away with a 15-play, 72-yard touchdown drive on their first possession in the second half that consumed 9:03 of the third quarter. The score came on a 1-yard sneak by Driskel.

“That drive was good for our offense and good for our team,” Driskel said.

UF added another TD with 6:47 left in the fourth quarter on a 1-yard sneak by No. 2 quarterback Jacoby Brissett.

The Gators and Wildcats played without a key offensive starter. UF fullback Trey Burton, who scored two touchdowns against Tennessee, was held out after experiencing back spasms Friday. UK’s starting quarterback, Maxwell Smith, was sidelined by a shoulder injury he sustained a week ago in a loss to Western Kentucky.

The Gators overcame the loss of Burton. UK could not absorb the blow of losing Smith, who was averaging more than 300 passing yards per game.

Morgan Newton, stepping in for Smith, threw three interceptions in the second quarter and managed only seven completions in 21 attempts for 48 yards.

“I thought our offensive line did a good job creating some holes,” UK coach Joker Phillips said. “We just couldn’t catch or throw. That’s not how we’ve been playing the last couple of weeks.

“(Smith) wanted to go. I was just not willing to do that to him or our football team. I treat him like one of my kids, and I did not want to risk him to get injured and be out for a significant amount of time.”

The Gators were a big-time winner in the quarterback battle. Although Driskel also struggled at times and threw his first interception of the season, he made some big plays with his arm and legs again. He completed 18 of 27 passes for 203 yards and a touchdown (a 19-yard toss to Quinton Dunbar in the closing minute of the first half) and also ran for a score.

“There are so many things he brings to the table for us because of his athletic ability,” Muschamp said. “It’s going to continue to come. We’re going to have some speed bumps. That’s part of the growing process with him. It is what it is.”

Driskel admitted he locked onto his primary receiver too many times and forced the deep throw in the end zone that was intercepted.

“Every game is a building block,” Driskel said. “The more experience and reps you get, the more you’re going to learn.
“I did some nice things today. But there are definitely some things I’m going to have to clean (up).”

It was far from a perfect performance by Driskel and the Gators on Saturday. But that perfect record sure looks and feels good. That’s why Driskel and his teammates were smiling.

“(The 4-0 record) is a little bit different this year,” Driskel said. “We’ve played three SEC teams already. That’s huge going to 3-0 in the SEC to start the year.

“We’re not there yet, but we’re going to keep working hard and playing hard.”